![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/greenboard.bc49743a.jpg)
Phoenix Family News
January 26, 2024
Important Dates Ahead...
January 29: No School - Teacher Workshop
January 30-March 15: ACCESS for ELs Testing
February: I Love to Read Month
February 16: No School - K-5 Prep Day
February 19: No School - President's Day
February 22 & 29: Conferences (Conference links will be sent in next week's Phoenix Family News)
Calendar and Schedule Updates
The latest calendar updates are available at sowashco.org/calendar.
Principal's Post: No School - January 29th
Connha Classon, Principal
Valley Crossing Elementary
I Love to Read Month
February is I Love to Read Month! We celebrate reading at Valley Crossing throughout the month in many ways. This week all students received a packet of information during their Media Class. This packet includes information on a February Reading Goal, getting a Washington County library card, the opportunity to Adopt a Book for the Media Center, and more! A link to the full packet can be found here.
The Reading Goal sheet encourages students to complete a variety of reading activities throughout the month of February. We encourage all students to set a “Star Goal” and complete as many of the reading activities listed as they can. One reading activity = one star! They can circle or mark off stars as they go, and if students complete their goal number of stars by the end of February, they'll have their photo taken in our Magical Photo Corner in the Media Center!
Also, save the date for Flashlight Reading in Media Class! Please have your child bring a flashlight on their class’s scheduled day. If you don’t have any flashlights, we do have some extra, but not enough for everyone. Thank you!
- Feb. 13: DiPrizio, Schwieters, Rodgers, Matulka, Caldwell
- Feb. 14: May, Wills, Krenner, McDowell, Hommez
- Feb. 15: Pendergrass, Singleton, Ryan, Balza, Billmeyer
- Feb. 20: Fjelsta, Mondry, Anderson, Warden, Stueve, Harper
- Feb. 21: Bryant, Bovee, Clear, Polifka, Ellsworth, Franzen, Casey
If you have any questions about I Love to Read Month, please contact Ms. Lanners, Media Specialist or Ms. Marrier, Reading Specialist. Happy Reading!
VCES Friendship Day: February 15
Valley Crossing has an upcoming friendship celebration day on February 15, and we are celebrating our friendship with others on Friendship Day! As you know, we have many celebration days throughout the year to have fun and build some amazing memories.
Please do not send in any items for Valentine's Day or Friendship Day as your child will not be able to share any items from home with other students. Instead, students will be celebrating friendship in their homebases by making cards, sharing compliments, and participating in Buddy Up activities. Be sure to watch for more information from your child's homebase teacher. We want to celebrate all the great friendships we have built at Valley Crossing and make sure that everyone is part of our school community.
Watch for Pedestrians in our Parking Lot
When you are driving in the Valley Crossing parking lot, please stay off your phone and be careful to watch for pedestrians. We have had several "near misses" in the last few weeks, and we want to be sure everyone stays safe! Thank you in advance for driving with caution!
2023-24 Yearbooks
Order your yearbook today from Josten's! Prices right now begin at $21.00.
SoWashCo Community Education Youth Activities
South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) offers activities and classes for youth through SoWashCo Community Education. Activities and classes are conveniently offered at your child's school, partner locations within our community and online. Sign up for the winter session now! The latest activities and classes can be found on our website under Get Involved > Youth Activities.
Featured Class
Comic Strip Design, Grades 3-6
Build your own comic! We’ll create awesome characters with fantastic expressions to bring our short stories to life.
- 6:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Feb. 6-March 12, East Ridge High School
- 6:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Feb. 7-28, Cottage Grove Middle School
- 6:30-7:30 p.m., Thursdays, Feb. 8-29, East Ridge High School
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
VCES MCA Testing Window: Grades 3-5
- April 15-19 – Reading
- April 22-26 -Math
- April 29-May 3 – Science (5th only)
ACCESS for EL Testing
All students identified as English Learners (EL) will be taking the ACCESS assessment between January 30th and March 22nd, 2024. This assessment is a federal requirement to assess English proficiency for students learning English. There are four domains tested Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. The testing will occur on the following dates:
Jan 30-Feb 2: Kindergarten
Feb. 2-Feb 9: Listening Gr. 1-5
- Feb 9-15: Reading Gr. 1.-5
- Feb. 15-Feb 26: Writing Gr. 1-5
- Feb 26-March 1: Speaking Gr. 1-5
- Makeups: March 12-15
To learn more about the ACCESS test, please visit our District Website. If you have questions, please contact Katie Behrend (651) 425-7648. Thank you!
Water Bottles Encouraged
All students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school each day. The water bottles should be clearly labeled with your child’s name and brought home frequently to be washed.
Please note that WATER is the only liquid that should be provided in the water bottles:
- Water gives students a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages.
- Water helps to increase students' overall waterconsumption.
- Water helps maintain hydration.
- Water is not sticky if the bottle spills.
- Water is not a caffeinated beverage.
Thank you for helping your child follow the water bottle expectations.
Lunchroom Visitors
Valley Crossing welcomes lunch time visitors between October 2nd – May 24th this school year. Based on space and safety requirements, a family member listed in Parent Portal may sign up using our monthly Reservation Link to accompany their child at our guest lunch table. Here is the Dec/Jan/Feb VCES Lunch Link for lunch visitors. PLEASE only sign up for one spot a month to allow for other families to sign up as well.
We ask families to review the process below for visiting your child at lunch:
- Sign up for the visit no later than the day prior to your visit.
- Upon arrival for the visit, present identification and complete the Raptor screening.
- Wear the visitor badge so that it is visible during the entirety of the visit.
- Go directly to the lunchroom and eat in the guest space with your student.
- No friends or additional students will be permitted to join the guest space.
- Visitors may not visit recess time.
- The visit is limited to guest space during the student’s identified lunch period.
- Any outside food brought in can only be shared with your student.
- Do not take pictures, record, or film while at school. Use of cell phones is strongly discouraged for safety and privacy.
- PLEASE only sign up for one spot a month to allow for other families to sign up as well.
VCES Celebrations
Valley Crossing Elementary is committed to celebrating the following this coming school year:
Fun Run Week - October 9-13
Unity Day - October 17 - wear orange
Veteran’s Day - November 10
10 Days of Giving - December 1-14
Winter Sing-a-long - Dec 21
Half-Way Celebration and Student Council Spirit Week - January 22-26
Friendship Day - February 15 (note: no Valentines please. Students will be making cards at school. More information to come in classroom newsletters)
100th Day - February 21
I Love to Read Month - Book Character Day on February 28 (Please notice date change due to conferences)
Earth Day - April 22
School Hours
8:00 am - School office opens
9:00 am - School opens to students
9:15 am - School day begins
3:45 pm - School day ends
4:00 pm - School office closes
NOTE: The earliest students can arrive at school in the morning is 9:00 am. All students must be picked up at 3:45 pm if not riding the bus home.
VCES Contact Information
Connha Classon, Principal: cclasson@sowashco.org / 651.425.7503
Joy Peterson, Assistant Principal: jpeters4@sowashco.org / 651.425.7523
Merita LaPlante, Office Coordinator: mlaplant@sowashco.org / 651.425.7501
Jen Gackstetter, Office Assistant: jgackste@sowashco.org / 651.425.7507
Faith Schulze, School Social Worker: fschulze@sowashco.org / 651.425.7699
Ashley Boatman, School Psychologist: aboatman1@sowashco.org / 651.425.7661
School Website: https://vces.sowashco.org/
District Website: www.sowashco.org
VCES Office: 651-425-7500
VCES Attendance Line: 651-425-7506
VCES Health Office: 651-425-7502
VCES Fax Number: 651-425-7515
District 833 Student Information: 651-425-6218
District 833 Transportation: 651-425-5303
Valley Crossing Elementary
Website: vces.sowashco.org
Location: 9900 Park Crossing, Woodbury, MN, USA
Phone: 651.425.7500